Puzzle game

Abstract

A puzzle game is disclosed in which a mechanical puzzle is contrived from a set of components, the game including a deconstruction of the puzzle's form. In randomizing and solving the puzzle, a handle and a housing are alternately rotated about and translated along an axis in relation to each other. Deconstruction of the puzzle's form involves removing a core sub-assembly containing the handle and other demountable components. This facilitates access to the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Application number 512613 was filed in New Zealand for substantially the same invention on Jun. 27, 2001. This application was deemed abandoned when the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand took action on Jun. 25, 2002, after a letter dated Jun. 21, 2002 willing abandonment was received from the inventor. Subsequently on Jun. 28, 2002, application number 519834 was filed in New Zealand. Priority is claimed under the Paris Convention for this later filing.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention is means for and a method of playing a game which develops the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399.[0003]An apparatus for making rotational mechanical puzzles is depicted in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399. According to the known art, a set of puzzle components can be assembled in a large variety of different ways. The assemblage once complete and randomised prevents the user from disassembling the apparatus...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Indeed it is an object of the invention to provide a colourful plastic contrivance that is attractive to potential users of all age groups from 18 months old, which may therefore come into a household as a uniquely valuable educational game.

[0010]It is a further object of the invention to provide a puzzle means which can be assembled to form puzzles of various degrees of difficulty. In the preferred embodiment, the invention further develops the known art apparatus in this regard by forming said housing from two separable pieces, one piece functioning as a container and the other as a lid for the container. Said lid is preferably formed during its manufacture so that when attached to said container it occupies a whole number multiple of the longitudinal extent of any one of said elements on the limiter. When the apparatus is assembled without the lid, additional annular elements may be supplied to replace the lid on the limiter. The latitudes provided to permit rotation of said elements on the limiter will then be preserved as said additional elements will take up exactly the same space longitudinally on the limiter as the lid would have done. At the same time, the difficulty level of puzzles made with the apparatus will increase.

Problems solved by technology

However when the known art core is removed from the limiter, the long rigid members readily separate and the small projectional units fall out.

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